Speed-controlling reversing-propeller.



PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908.

, 0. F. ROPER.

SPEED CONTROLLING REVERSING PRQPELLER.

' APPLICATION FILED 0OT.29, 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WWW M PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908.

0. P. ROPER.

SPEED CONTROLLING REVBRSING PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.29,1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' CHARLES F. ROPER, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOv C. ROPER & COMPANY,

OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, FIRM.

SPEED-CONTROLLING. REVERSING-PROPELLER.-

' Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

To all who in. it may concern:

Be it known-that 1, CHARLES F. Korea, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, county of Worcester, and State. of Massachusetts, have invented'an Improvement in S eed-Controlling' Reversingropellers, of w 'ch the following description, 1n connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing rep:

well as speed variation, being effected wholly by the propeller itself, obviating the use of clutches and reversingv gearing. There is a wide field of usefulness for such propellers in small boats and launches, and my present inventionzhas for its objectthe production of various novel features of construction and arrangement in such a propeller as above referred to, whereby the strength, durability, and general efliciency of the .apparatus is increased and made thoroughly practical in a commercial sense.

The novel features of the invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and articularly pointed out in the following 0 aims. I

Figure 1 is a side elevation,lpartly broken out, ofa propeller embodying my present invention, mounted at the sternof a boat, the manually-operated means for governing or regulating the speed and direction by or through the propeller being omitted, as forming no part of my invention; Fig. 2 is a left hand end elevation of the'propeller shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail showing the sup orting hub for the propeller blades, two 0 the blades being shown in elevation and a third artly in section, the bearing stud or intle or the fourth blade being shown in ful and the casing in section; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one part of the combined controller to be referred to} Fig. 5 is a side andcasing, elevation of one of the propeller blades,

tached; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 66, Fig. 5, looking down; Fig. 7 is a. transverse section of the combined controller and easing, on the line 77, Fig. 3, looking toward the left.

Referring to Fig. 1 the stern-post '1 of the boat has a suitable bearing 2 in which is rotatably'mounted a longitudinally movable.

sleeve 3, through which extends the driving shaft 5 of the motor, all substantially as in my said patent, the sleeve having a grooved collar 4. on its inner end, and by means of a suitable yoke-lever, (not shown) the longitudinal movement of the sleeve is effected.

It is supposed that the shaft 5 is driven by the motor uniformly as to direction and speed, as in my atent. Near the outer end 0 the shaft an e ongated blade-carrying hub 6 is fixedly secured, see Figs. 1 and 3, said hub having thereon, and preferably integral with it, oppositepairs'of strong and heavy elongated caring-studs or pintles 7, projecting radially from the hub, the two studs on one side being diametrically opposite the two on the other side. Said studs are preferably reduced in diameter at their outer ends, as at 8, and the hub has bosses 9 formed upon it to present flat annular seats 10, at the base of and concentric with each stud. Herein I have shown two sets or airs of propeller blades, mounted on the ub, each pair consisting of two oppositelyextended b blades being shown in Fig. 1, and as each blade is constructed like its fellows only one will be described indetail. Each blade is a casting and has a strong and heavy cylindrical base or hub 11 provided with a central socket 12, see Fig. 3, and dotted lines Fig. 5, the inner end of the socket being extended through'the hub well into the blade, as at 13, and reduced in diameter to conform to the end 8 of a pintle and also because the blade thins down from the hub 11. The blade is'pivotally mounted on one of the bearing-studs or pintles, which fits easily in the socket provided for it, and it will be seen that a very long and strong extended bearing is thus ovided, the stud extending well into the solid metal ofthe body of the blade.

A lateral foot 14 extends from the bottom of each blade hub, and'rests upon the annular seat 10 of the adjacent boss 9 of the blade-carrying hub 6, a pin or follower 15 ades, as a, a and b, b, all of the I projecting from the outer face of the foot retaining t driving shaft.

parall l to the socket 12 and eccentric. there to. he blades are thus mounted so that they can be turned on the bearing studs, but revolve bodily with the hub 6 by or tnrough rotation of the drive shaft 5. The anigularity of the blades may be varied, as W1 be described, so that elther of the two blades of a pair, or the blade'sof one pan may be varied as to their angularity relatively to the blades of the other pair. I Y

I have herein provided a combined controller and casing, such art having the twofold function of contro ling the angularity of the blades and also of inclosing the hub-.6 and the ad'acent parts of-the blades, while e latter on the bearing-studs. Such controller and casing is herein shown as made in two separable parts 1Q, 17, divided longitudinally, each part be1ng a casting of semi-cylindrical shape 1n crosssection, the ends of the part 17 being upturned at 18 to overlap the opposite y turned ends 19 of the part 16, the overlapped ends at the inner extremity of the casing being internally threaded, Fig. 3, to receive the threaded end 3 of the sleeve 3. Said sleeve thereby rigidly connects the inner ends of the casing and is firmly secured to both parts of the casing. The overlatpped ends 18, 19 at the outer extremit' o the casin are internally threaded, an an ex-' tern ly threaded bushing 19 is screwed into the same, as shown in Fig. 3, the bushing securely locking together the.' parts of 'the casing at the outer extremity thereof, the bore of the bushing fitting easily around the outer end of the shaft is thus provided, which surrounds the shaft 5 and the hub 6 thereon, and which is longitudinally movable relatively thereto, but said casing and the sleeve 3 rotate with the Each casing part is lon 'tudinally and centrally slotted at 20, see ig s. 3, 4 and 7, to loosely receive the hubs 11 of the two blades on one side of the hub 6, the slots being long enough to afford the proper clearance when the controller-casing is moved longitudinally. The foot 14 of each blade rojects toward the side of the casing,

' and t at portion of a foot between the follower 15 and the hub 11 is held in place by the overlying part of the casing, as will be manifest from the dotted lines Fig. 7. provided with two camslots, but when the casing is assembled the Each casing part is two pairs of cam-slots are reversely arranged, as indicated by dotted lines Fig. 4. These cam-slots are similar to equivalent slots in my patent, each comprising a longitudinal portlon 21 and a short transverse portlon or end 22 at its inner end, and one of the followers 15 enters each cam-slot, as in Fig 1.

It is not considered necessary to describemoving left, F1 & .1, thereby first changing the angularity o 4 5. A shell-like casing solid body t in detailthe changes in the angularity of the propellerbladeseifected by-longitu inal movement of the controller, in view of the full description thereof in my patent herein referred to, it being'suflicient to state that in Fig. 1 the blades are set for full-speed ahead, the controller-casing being in its extreme inward position.

Reduction of speed will be effected by the controller outward, or to the the blades 0,, a, throu h the cooper-v ation of their followers and t e transverse portions of their cooperating cam-slots, and continued outward movement of the controller will change the angularity of the blades b, b when their followers have traversed. the longitudinal portions of their cam-slots, in the position of the bla es (1, a. When at its extreme outward osition the controller will have set the lilades in position for full-speed astern. The shell-like form of the controller serves to protect and inclose the parts, and its externally ovoid shape very materially prevents the collection of grass or seaweed, and reduces the resistance to passage through the water.

The construction of the mechanism is very strong, rigid, and durable, and easy to produce, while permitting of very rapid and effective change in the setting of the blades according to the desired speed and direction. of movement of the boat.-

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arran ement of the apparatus herein shown, as? have merely il ustrated and described in detail one practical embodiment of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I Patent is and finally comipletev the change .claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1. A rotatable shaft, a hub fixed thereon and having rigid, radially extended and elongated bearing studs thereon in diametricall otally mounted on each stud, each h ade having a doe socket extending Well into the ereof to receive the. stud, and a single-controlling means to effect e ual and opposite angular movement of the b ades of a pair and also to vary the angularity of the blades of one other pair.'

2. A rotatable shaft, a hub fixed thereon and having integral therewith op osite pairs of inde endent, radially extended and elongated earing studs thereon, a pro eller blade pivotally mounted on each stu and having a 'deep socket extended into the solid body of the blade to receive the stud,

y opposite pairs, a propeller blade 'iv-- pair relativelyto those of the and controlling means common to both I pairs of blades to vary the relative of the blades of the two pairs.

3. A rotatable shaft, a hub fixed thereon angularity and having 0 posite pairs of integral, radieratively connected with the eccentric fo lowers of the several blades, to effect equal and opposite angular movement of the blades of a pair and also to vary the angularity of the blades of, one pair relatively to those of the other air.

4. A rotatable s aft, a hub fast thereon and having rigid, oppositely extended and elongated pairs of bearing studs thereon, two

pairs of propeller blades ivotally mounted on said studs, each bla e havin a deep socket to receive the stud and a f0 ower eccentric to the base of the blade, and a combined controller and casin surrounding the hub. and shaft and mova le longitudinally relatively thereto, the controller being longitudinallyslotted on opposite sides to receive the bases of the blades and having cam-slots to cooperate with the followers.

5. A rotatable shaft, a hub fast thereon and having rigid, oppositely extended and elongated pairs of bearing studs thereon, two pairs of pro eller blades pivotally mounted on said stu s, each blade having a hub-like base provided with a stud-receiving socket extended into the body of'the blade, and a follower eccentric to the'base, and a separable two-part combined controller and casin surrounding the hub and shaft and mov-j ab e longitudinally relatively thereto, the

parts of the controller being lon itudinally slotted to receive the bases of the lades and having camslots to receive and cooperate with the followers.

6. A rotatable shaft, a hub fast thereon and having rigid, oppositely extended and elongated pairs of bearing studs thereon, a flat annular seat at the base of and concentric with each stud, two pairs of propeller blades pivotally mounted on the studs, each blade having an elongated hub with a central stud-socket extended into the body of the blade, and a lateral foot having a follower thereon eccentric to the hub and parallel to the socket therein, and a separable combined controller and easing inclosing the hub and movable longitudinally on the shaft, the casing having longitudinal slots to receive the blade hubs and provided with cam-slots to cooperate with the followers and control the angularity of the blades by longitudinal movement of the controller, the ends of the blade hubs resting on the annular seats at the bases ,of the studs.

. 7. A rotatable shaft, a hub fast thereon and having rigid, oppositely extended and elongated pairs of bearing studs thereon, two pairs of propeller blades ivotally mounted on said studs, each blade havin a deep socket to receive the stud and a follower eccentric to the base of the blade, and an externally ovoid casing surrounding the studs carrying hub and movable longitudinally relatively thereto, said casing having overlapped ends aperturedto receive the shaft and the casingalso being'longitudinally slot-,

ted to receive the bases of the blades, and

having cam-slots to cooperate with the fol= lowers.

8. A rotatable shaft, a hub faskthereon and having rigid, oppositely extendbd and elongated pairs of bearing studs thereon, two pairs of propeller blades ivotally mounted on said studs, each bla e having a deep socket to receive the stud and a lateral foot provided with .a follower eccentric to the socket, and a combined controller andcasing surroundin the hub and shaft and movable lon itudinally relatively thereto, the controller being longitudinally slotted on opposite sides to receive the bases of the blades and having cam-slots to cboperate with the followers, the controlling-casing adjacent the sides of the longitudinalslots extending over the feet of the blades and retaining the latter in position on the bearing studs.

9.1m apparatus of the class described, a driving shaft, two oppositely extended airs of. ropeller blades mounted thereon an angufarly movable about their own axes, a twopart casing longitudinally slotted to receive the hubs of the blades and having overlapped ends provided with threaded openthe o posite overlap ed endsof the casing and t rough which t e shaft freel passes, and positive connections between t e casin and propeller blades, whereby longitudina movement of the casing varies the angularity of the blades.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a driving shaft, two oppositely extended pairs of ropeller blades mounted thereon and anguarly movable about their own axes, an externally ovoid, two-part combined controller and easing longitudinally slotted to receive the blade hubs and inclosing their connections with the shaft, means to lock the casing parts together and to embrace the shaft loosely, and connections between the casing and the blades, whereby longitudinal movement of the former relatively to the shaft varies the angularity of the latter.

11. A combined controller and casing for a 4: i v 573 022 s'peed-controllirig reversing 1propeller, coni- In testimony whereof, I have signed my prising two longitudinally s otted shelllike name to this'specification, in the presence of 10 parts having overla ped ends provided with two subscribing Witnesses. registering threade openings, and tubular 5 locking members adapted to be screwed into d W QHARLES ROPER' the o enings to lock the parts of the casing 1 toget er, the propeller shaft passing loosely through said locking members. i

Witnesisesf I I GEO. W. GREGORY, I MARGARET A. DUNN. 

